NEW HELP FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ENTERING WORK

Across the UK, new government reforms are being introduced to help more young people aged 16–24 move into work, apprenticeships and training. For those in the Liverpool City Region, this means more career opportunities for young people and more financial support for businesses who offer these opportunities over the next 12–18 months.

If you are under the age of 25 and not yet on a firm career path, these changes promise to make things much easier for you to find a good job. They are part of a wider government focus on reducing youth unemployment and supporting young people to build long-term careers.

More apprenticeships

Apprenticeships will become even more attractive for employers which means more vacancies for young people to choose from. Apprenticeships will be more attractive to employer because of some key changes that are coming into play, including:

• From 1^st August, apprenticeships for under-25s will be fully funded for smaller and medium-sized businesses, which means these employers won’t have to pay anything towards training. 
• From October, these businesses will also get £2000 for every new apprentice they hire under the age of 25.
• The perk that employers don’t need to pay any employer National Insurance contributions for apprentices under 25 will continue. This is true for all-sized businesses, even large ones.

All these employer financial benefits will increase the number of apprenticeship vacancies available particularly in small and medium-sized businesses. For young people, this means more opportunities to start a career through an employed route, developing skills, getting paid and gaining invaluable work experience.

There is also a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers hiring 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for six months or more (from June 2026). This can be stacked with the other financial benefits to taking on a new apprentice under the age of 25.

Introduction of new apprenticeship pathways

There are some new apprenticeship routes being introduced too. Foundation apprenticeships have already been extended to include hospitality and retail. These programmes are designed to provide an accessible entry point into work and training, particularly for those who prefer practical, on-the-job learning.

And from August 2026, a new level 2 administration assistant apprenticeship will be available exclusively for 16–24-year-olds. This provides a direct route into office-based roles across a wide range of sectors. We expect many employers to use this apprenticeship to recruit school leavers and other young people into their business. Why don’t you check out what type of thing you would learn on this apprenticeship and consider whether it suits you. Check out LCR Be More apprenticeship vacancy listing from August to see what opportunities like this become available.

Youth Jobs Guarantee

The Youth Jobs Guarantee is being expanded across the country around June to include young people aged 18–24 who have been on Universal Credit for over 18 months. This initiative offers subsidised, paid work placements of around 25 hours per week at the relevant minimum wage. If you do this programme, you will receive additional support to help you get a long-term job.

This scheme is expected to create over 90,000 placements over the next three years, providing a structured route into work for those who may be struggling to find employment.

Wider support for young people

Alongside employment and training, young people on apprenticeships and programmes will have access to wider support.

Training providers work with young people to support their:

• Skills development and qualification achievement 
• Confidence and employability 
• Personal challenges such as finances, housing or wellbeing 
• Additional learning needs 

This ensures that young people are supported not just in their training, but in other areas of their lives to ensure that they can overcome any challenges that arise to completing their programmes and getting a long-term job.

What this means for our region

For the Liverpool City Region, these changes are expected to lead to many more apprenticeship and entry-level job opportunities across every sectors. As employers respond to the new hiring incentives, more vacancies will become available over the coming months. LCR Be More continues to play a key role in supporting young people to access these opportunities. The platform provides up-to-date apprenticeship and job vacancy listings along with a wealth of information on career pathways, 

If you are under the age of 25 and thinking about how to launch a career, now is the time to start exploring your options by:

• Keeping an eye on apprenticeship vacancies on LCR Be More 
• Considering areas of interest and potential career paths 
• Preparing your CV to apply as new opportunities become available